Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Maintext of Interest

Hey, sweetie. Remember when I wondered out loud if I should be watching “Person of Interest” because of the shippy nature of the Root and Shaw relationship? And you were all, yes, dummy. Yes. Well, while on vacation back home I happened to sit down with my mother (who, as previously mentioned, loooooves the show) and finally watched an episode. Boy, did the show show me.

Because the show went there. The show really, really went there. It didn’t tease. It didn’t imply. It didn’t beat around the metaphorical (or literal) bush. It full on went there. [Spoilers if you didn’t see last week’s episode.]

So now, obviously, I am hooked. Quick recap, in an episode meant to illuminate The Machine’s seemingly infinite, nano-second decision-making process we are taken through a series of simulations as the team – particularly the persons of gay lady interest in the form of Amy Acker’s Root and Sarah Shahi’s Shaw – try to save the world (well, stock market) and themselves in a nearly impossible situation.

Watching the episode unfold was fascinating for a number of reasons. First, it confirmed what careful (and gay) viewers have been seeing for a while now. The attraction between hacker Root and sociopath Shaw has been obvious to many, but possibly not overt to all. But, holy crap, did they out it forever last week. At first I thought it was just a little playful acknowledgement of this ship. But then, BOOM, it went full canon. Have no doubt, people, The Machine ships it.

That, my friends, is a stand up, slow clap, hats off moment of a show taking subtext into maintext.

Granted, I’m none to happy about the possibly dead thing. But, also, I have much hope that she isn’t actually dead. (p.s. Sarah Shahi’s pregnancy – with twins – facilitated this storyline in the first place.) And if she isn’t dead, that means at some point the show will have to come to terms with the BIG LESBIAN FEELINGS it unleashed on these characters. Also, how wonderful is it to see Fred and Carmen together? So wonderful. Admit it, they’re good together.

Of course, on the flip side, if she is dead, ugh – really? Another dead queer female character? Don’t even get me started. So let’s just trust The Machine knows what’s good for it and we shall see Shaw again someday.

I don’t know. I really don’t know. But damn this show sure has my interest now. And I, like The Machine, will be watching.

15 comments:

Pregnancy with twins is a legit reason to potentially off a character, regardless of sexuality...so if we didn't have so many stupid reasons for killing off the lesbian, this wouldn't feel a tad like "just another dead lesbian to further the plot." That said, it's an awesome show and I'm thinking if it lasts for another few seasons (you know how fickle networks can be), we'll see Shaw again!

I don't know how they can make Shah un-dead. She was bleeding out, there was a bang suggesting a final head shot, and all the members of the machine's crew were accounted for. No one left to save her, except the german shepherd. Really bummed. I loved the confident, slightly crazy nature of her character.

Anon above has clearly never seen a sci fi show or even apparently watched the rest of POI? Kara was "dead" too. Dead to the tune of being blown up by a missile from a jet. Aaaaand guess what. No body shot? No death. That's one of the first rules of genre TV.

Its frustrating that Shaw as a queer lady is potentially dead, but Shahi has said the writers were willing to try and write her pregnancy into the show and ultimately she was the one to say that wasn't true to the character. I have very little doubt we will see Shaw show up (probably late in season 5) in a very important way.

I hope you watch the entire series to get an idea of what to expect with POI. This is not a relationship show where they will be going out on dates or show any physicality. The kiss in the last episode was more than we ever expected. I hope if you continue to cover POI you judge what they do with Shoot based on what this show is rather than comparing it to what other shows do.

oh just stop, all of you delegitimizing anons who tell the rest of us how to feel. it goes like this. a legitimate fan of the show, who is also queer-identified and who gets the full impact of Root and Shaw's relationship, expresses an understandable set of emotions about Shaw's death (including 'ugh' because it's boring)and then out come the anons! telling us 'you just don't get it' or 'this one was legit bc of the real life pregnancy' which really isn't the point. the writers still have choices and killing Shaw off for really reals is NOT a good choice. ok. so stop trying to control the conversation. This is a great little recap, and I appreciate the perspective considering how annoyingly clogged up the boards have been with anti-lesbian sentiment.

@Blogger." the writers still have choices and killing Shaw off for really reals is NOT a good choice."

1. No body, not dead. One of the cardinal rules of TV.2. Did you even bother to watch the last episode including the preview? Because if you did you'll know that the possibility of Shaw being alive is very real.

That being said, either way there's no way Sarah Shahi can stay in the show because you know TWINS. The exec producers repeatedly have said that they would really like to have Sarah to come back, should she ever get a chance. But at this point it's all up in air.

I was legitimately heartbroken when I thought at the end of the ep that she was dead. However now that I know that she is having babies, it makes sense.

I'm glad they had the kiss, just wish we could have seen both their faces during it but Amy Ackers beautiful hair got in the way.

I'm gonna go with my hope that Sameen isn't dead. Maybe her buddy that let her go last time was there and that last shot was him killing the blonde agent? That would be SWEET.

I understand that Sameen is a socio path but she does have some feelings which are shown by how much she loved the dog.. Most socio paths would be more interested in dissecting a dog then loving it..

Like that one little girl said on the episode its like her feelings are turned town really low. She has them she just doesn't know how to access them most of the time.

I really hope my OTP gets together eventually. That would be nice. Plus it would be interesting to see how their dynamic change after 4x11.

And its not like I expect them to hold hands and exchange I love you's, they just aren't those types of women. What I would expect is a bunch of awkwardness on Sameens part, a bunch of cute craziness on Roots part and when they have one of those "moments" that they have wild passionate sex. That's the dream lol